Justice Sought For Victoria Lee Who Was Killed By NJ Cop As Family Watched

A Korean American community organization announced its support for stronger legislation on use of force in New Jersey by police and called for more action in the investigation of Victoria Lee’s death.
Lee, 25, was fatally shot by Fort Lee police on July 28. Officers responded to a call from a man who said his sister, Lee, was experiencing a mental health crisis and needed to go to the hospital. Lee’s brother told the dispatcher that his sister had a knife.
Lee was holding a water bottle when she was shot by police, as her family and dog watched.
The Attorney General’s Office said the fatal shot was fired by Police Officer Tony Pickens, Jr.
Newsweek contacted Fort Lee Mayor Mark J. Sokolich for information on the employment status and personnel files of officers who responded to Lee’s apartment.
Nearly three months after the fatal incident, the Korean American Association of Greater New York’s Human Rights Committee is advocating for a piece of legislation currently making its way through the New Jersey General Assembly.
Assembly Bill No. 4175 was introduced by Assembly Member Ellen Park in April, three months before Lee’s death. The Judiciary Committee voted unanimously on Monday to refer the bill to the Appropriations Committee.
The bill would codify a biannual review of the statewide use of force policy by the attorney general or in a shorter time frame if the attorney general feels it is necessary. It defines core principles the attorney general should consider when revising the use of force policy. It would also require use of force incidents be reported to the Department of Law and Public Safety.
“We hope that this bill will become law, require the State Attorney General to review the Use of Force Policy every two years and specify guidelines for police response to people experiencing mental health crises, thereby preventing innocent lives from being lost due to excessive use of force by police,” the committee said in a statement sent to Newsweek.
“The Human Rights Committee of the Korean American Association of Greater New York, representing New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut, appreciates the efforts of Assemblywoman Ellen Park and hopes that this bill will be an opportunity to save many lives; hence, we support and stand with this bill.”
The group also called on the mayor of Fort Lee and other elected officials to help advocate for the legislation’s passage.
“We also hope that the mayor of Fort Lee, representing the area where Victoria Lee lived and city, state, and federal lawmakers, will actively support and participate in this movement,” the committee said.
The committee demanded that action be taken in the investigation into Lee’s death.
“We demand immediate Administrative Leave on police officers who are related to the shooting of Victoria Lee and that the Attorney General’s Office conduct a sincere and prompt investigation into the truth as soon as possible.” the committee said. “The Korean American Association of Human Rights Committee hopes that Victoria Lee’s sacrifice will serve as an opportunity to save many lives and that it will do its utmost to ensure that her death was not in vain.”
Newsweek reached out to the family’s attorney, Henry Sukjin Cho, for comment.
It took two minutes and 33 seconds for Fort Lee police to go from verbally stating they did not want to hurt Lee to fatally shooting her.
Body camera video released by the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office shows an officer talking to Lee’s brother in the hallway of The Pinnacle apartment complex on Main Street.
Two women, Lee and her mother, opened the door to the apartment briefly, then close it again. The officer asks them to open the door multiple times.
Officers are seen discussing how to respond to the situation, with some deciding to use “lethal” force.
Police officers then break down the door and enter the apartment. Lee was shot in the chest and officials provided medical assistance. She was transported to Englewood Hospital, where she was pronounced dead at around 1:58 a.m.
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